Soil sampling apparatus



Aug.\21, 1945. J, s HARRls A 2,382,992

m SOILv SAMPLING APPARATUS' Filed Feb. 1o, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 Jsse S. Harris aJMMJ.; u(

Aug. 21, 1945. J. s. HARRIS 2,382,992

SOIL SAMPLING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1o, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 2 Jsse S. Harris f?? 44 SIMM .they are taken.

Patented Aug. 21, 194s UNITED STATES PATENT oFF'lcE l Claim.

(Cl. Z55-1.4)

'(Granted 'under the act of March 3, i883, as

amended April 30,

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus for sampling soil and is directed particularly to methods and apparatus for obtaining representative samples of soil intact at various depths below the surface of the soil.

Numerous methods and special equipment have been utilized in the past for sampling soil with varying degrees of success, but among those methods and devices there is none which is entirely satisfactory. All such methods and equipment are either limited as to the depth below the surface at which soil samples can be obtained or are not adapted to obtain samples of soil intact and hence, representative of the strata from which It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved soil sampling apparatus which can easily be sunk to predetermined depths below the surface of the soil and can easily obtain representative samples of soil wholly intact at such depths.

Another object is to provide a soil sampling apparatus adapted to permit forced passage of a fluid therethrough for promoting the descent of the device in the soil'.

Still another object of this invention is to pro vide a soil sampling apparatus which may be easily sunk to a predetermined depth without contaminating the sampling tube before it reaches the desired depths.

A further object of this invention is to provide a soil sampling apparatus comprising a sampling `tube having a water conduit concentrically disposed within the tube in which the sampling tube and the conduit may be longitudinally moved with respect to each other and selectively secured in different relative positions.

A still further object of this invention is to Drovide an inexpensive soil sampling apparatus which may -be manually operated, efficiently and economically to obtain representative soil samples at predetermined depths below the surface of the soil.

Other'obiects will be apparent from the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the soil sampling apparatus in operation in a soil cavity;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing in enlarged detail the lower portion of the soil sampling apparatus with the elements thereof in drilling position;

Figures 3A. 3B and 3C are front and rear elevational and top plan'views respectively of the detachable handle for the sampling device;

Figure 4 is an elevational view showing thev upper portion of the sampling apparatus;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal view partly in section showing the lower portion of the soil sampling apparatus with the elements thereof in sampling position and in operation in a soil cavity;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing in enlarged detail the lower portion of the sampling apparatus with the elements thereof in samplingposition. y

Figure`7 is an elevational view showing one Imethod of removing the soil sample from the apparatus.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the soil sampling apparatus includes a sampling tube I, made up of a series of sections 2 joined by couplings 3.v Alternatively, the sections 2 may be joined by engaging external and internal screw threaded portions located at the ends' of adjoining sections or by any other suitable means.

tions 2, it is preferred to employ a means which will provide `smooth flush joints in the outer wall of the sampling tube l. of the sampling tube l is interiorly threaded at its lower end to receive an annular cutting shoe l. The lower face of the cutting shoe 4 is inclined to form a cutting edge 5. Aconduit 6, made up oi' a series of sections l, joined by couplings 8, is concentricaily disposed within the sampling tube I and is adapted for longitudinal movement therein. The lower end of the lowermost section 'I' of the conduit 6, is reduced in cross-section to form a nipple 9, which is provided with screw threads for securing it to a drill point I0. The 40 lower section 1' of the conduit 6 is provided at its upper and lower ends with a pair of enlarged threaded collars Il and l2. The threaded collars I I and I2 are secured to section 1' by any suitable means or may be formed integrally thereon. The lower threaded collar I2 is secured adjacent the reduced end of the conduit section 1' and the upper thread collar I I is secured to the section 'i' at a distance from the lowerl collar -I2 approximately equivalent to the length of the sample of `50 soil it is desired to obtain. The coupling 3 which joins the lower terminal section 2', of the sampling tube i, to the adjacent section 2 is provided with internal screw threads I3. The screw threads I3 on the coupling yIn" are adapted to selectively engage the screwthreads on either the In joining the sec- The terminal section 2' l f sampling tube I.

` lower threaded collars II and I2 respectively on conduit section 1' have been disclosed as the per` ferred means for selectively securing the sampling tube I to the conduit 6, other suitablevengaging means may be employed for this purpose. The drill point I is provided with an enlarged upper portion I4 and a reduced lower portion I5 which tapers to a point at the lower end thereof. The upper portion I4 of the drill point I0 is adapted to nt in the bore of the sampling tube section 2' and contacts the inner walls thereof to serve as a guide` for the conduit 6 when it is longitudinally moved in the sampling tube I. The tapered portion I5 of the drill point I0 corresponds in diameter at the base thereof to the opening in the annular cutting shoe 4. The drill point I6 is provided with a longitudinal passage I 6 which is enlarged at the upper end thereof and the enlarged portion I4 is interiorly threaded for connection to the nipple 9 The lower tapered portion I5 of the drill point I0 is provided with a plurality of angularly disposed passages I1 in the walls thereof connecting with the passage I6. An annular packing ring I8 is disposed between the threaded collar I2 on the conduit section 1' and the enlarged upper portion I4 of the drill point I0. The conduit 6 and the passages I6 and II provide for the iiow of water through the soil sampling apparatus and into the soil around the lower end of the apparatus.

The soil sampling apparatus is provided with a detachable lifting device for removing the apparatus from the soil cavity. Referring to Figures 3A. 3B and 3C, the lifting device comprises a pair of arcuate plates I9 and 20 which are provided with a. pair of hinge elements 2| and 22 through which a pin 23 passes. The hinged plates I9 and 26 are adapted to engage a section 2 of the The plate 20 has a pair of horizontal plates 24 and 25 formed thereon. The plates 24 and 25 are provided with aligned openings 26 adapted to receive the trunnions 21 and 28 formed in the base of the bolt 29 and pivotally support the latter. The bolt 29 is adapted to pass through the opening in a forked plate 3II which is formed on the arcuate plate I9. A nut 3I is adapted to engage the bolt 29 and the forked plate 30 and clamp the arcuate plates I9 and 20 on the section 2 of the sampling tube I. A pair of handles 32 and 33 are formed on or otherwise secured to the arcuate plates I 9 and 20 to provide the operator with a means for controlling and directing the sampling apparatus. The arcuate plate 20 is provided with a depending lug 34 for engaging a lifting jack 35 shown in Figure 4 which is adapted to lift the sampling apparatus out of the soil cavity. A suspension rig is also shown in Figure 4 which comprises a horizontal bar 36, and a pair of leg members 31 and 38. The horizontal bar 36, has loosely mounted thereon a T-shaped fitting 39, the depending portion of which is interiorly threaded. The threaded portion of the fitting 39 is adapted to engage the threaded upper end of the conduit 6.

A water reservoir 40 having an outlet pipe 4I provided with a valve 42 is adapted to be connected to the conduit 6 by a hose 43. The hose 43 may be connected to the outlet pipe 4I and the conduit 6 by the detachable clamps 44 or other suitable means.. Any suitable source of air pressure, such as a pump 45 may be employed to produce pressure in the reservoir 40. The pressure' produced in the reservoir 40 forces the water in the reservoir though the outlet pipe 4I and the hose 43 into the conduit 8 of the sampling apparatus and thence through the passages I6 and I1 in the drill point I0.

In assembling the device the cutting shoe 4 is attached to the lower end of the section 2' of the sampling tube I. The drill point I 9 is secured to the lower end of the section 1' of the conduit 6 by screwing it onto the threaded nipple 9, with the packing ring I8 disposed between the threaded collar I2 on the conduit section 1' and the enlarged upper portion I4 of the drill point I0. The conduit section I with the drill point I0 attached is inserted into the lower terminal section 2' r0f the sampling tube I, and moved longitudinally therein until the lower tapered portion I5 of the drill point I0 extends through the annular cutting shoe 4 and the enlarged portion I4 of the drill point I0 rests on the upper edge of the cutting shoe 4. The coupling 3' is attached to the upper end of the section 2' of the sampling tube I and the internal screw threads I3 on the coupling 3 thereby engaged with threaded collar II. The drill point I0 is forced against .the upper edge of the cutting shoe 4 to seal the interior of section 2 of the sampling tube I. 'I'he sampling apparatus is thus assembled with the elements thereof arranged in a position adapted for drilling. The water reservoir 40 is connected to the conduit 6 by attachlng the hose 43 to the outlet pipe 4I and the upper terminal end of the conduit 6 with the detachable clamps 44. 'Ihe lifting device is attached to the section 2' of the sampling tube- IA by clamping the arcuate plates I9 and 20 to the section 2 in the manner described above.

The soil sampling apparatus assembled as described above may then be inserted into the soil by the operator who manually forces it below the surface aided by the weight of the sampling apparatus and the ow of water under pressure from the passages I6 and I1 in the drill point I0. The'water moistens the soil at the bottom of the soil cavity and the softening actionl therefrom assists in the sinking of the sampling apparatus. 'I'he ilow of water from the inclined passages I'I in the drill point I 0 moistens the soil adjacent the cutting edge 5 of the cutting shoe 4 and also provides a lubricating action between the sides of the cavity and the wall of the sampling tube I. The sampling apparatus is thus sunk into the soil and additional sections coupled to the conduit 6 and lthe sampling tube I until the apparatus reaches the desired depth. When the sampling apparatus reaches the strata where it is desired to obtain a sample of the soil, the flow of water is stopped by shutting the valve 42 in the outlet pipe 4I and the hose 43 is detached from the conduit 6. The threaded portion of the T-shaped iitting 39 is attached to the threaded upper end of the conduit 6 and the legs 31 and 38 of the suspension rig forced into the surface of the soil thereby xing the position of the conduit 6 and preventing further movement thereof. The operator then rotates the sampling tube I by turning the handles 32 and 33 to disengage the coupling 3' and the collar II, and forces the lower section 2' of the sampling tube I into the soil. This movement is continued until the screw threads I3 on the coupling 3' engage the lower collar I2. 'I'he sample tube I is rotated until the enlarged portion I4 of the drill point I0 and the packing ring I8 are forced against the coupling 3' thereby securing the sampling tube I and the conduit 6 against further relative movement with respect to one another. The sample of soil which has been forced into the section 2 vby the downward movement of the sampling tube I may be removed intact from the soil cavity by detaching the suspension rig from the conduit 6 and withdrawing the sampling apparatus from the soil cavity. The sample may be removed from the section 2 by disassembling the apparatus and forcing the sample out of the section 2. In Fig-ure 7, the method of using Yair pressure to force the sample from the section 2 is disclosed. In carrying out this method, the lowermost section 2 of the sampling tube 2 is removed from the apparatus by disengaging the coupling 3. A threaded fitting 46 provided with a threaded nipple 41 is secured to the upper end of the lsection 2 A standard threaded hose coupling 48 which is attached to an air hose 4B connected tq the air pump 45, is then secured to the nipple 4'I. 'Ihe annular cutting shoe 4 is removed from the lower end of the section 2 and this end is then inserted in a container 50. The pump 45 is then operated to force air into the section 2 which, in turn, forces the soil sample out of the section 2' into the container 50.

The soil sampling apparatus described is simple,

I inexpensive and provides a means for obtaining samples of soil representative of any particular strata. The apparatus may be operated manually to sink it to any desired depth where a sample of soil can be obtained which is free of soil from any other level of the cavity. The

sample of soil thus Aobtained may be removed from the soil cavity and then removed from the sampling tube intact.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Pat- .ent is:

cutting member and seal the lower end of the sampling tu'be; said drill point being provided with a vertical fluid outlet and radially arranged,

upwardly directed fluid outlets connected with said vertical fluid outlet; said vertical outlet being adapted to direct a fluid medium into the soil in advance of said apparatus; said radial outlets being adapted to direct the iluid medium into the soil adjacent the cutting surface of said annular cutting member; and interengaging means on said conduit and sampling tube for securing the conduit to the sampling tube either with the` drill point positioned to seal the lower end of said sampling tube or in a position spaced above said lower end whereby to permit a sample of soil to enter the lower end of said soil sampling tube.

JE'ssE STEWART HARRIS. 

